Sports

Members of the Black Knights’ defense – Blake Powers (7), Chase Calhoun (2), Jonah Teesateskie (62) and John Dominguez (74) – crunch Andrews senior running back Dalton Rose during Friday’s homecoming win over the Wildcats. Photos courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Members of the Black Knights’ defense – Blake Powers (7), Chase Calhoun (2), Jonah Teesateskie (62) and John Dominguez (74) – crunch Andrews senior running back Dalton Rose during Friday’s homecoming win over the Wildcats. Photos courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Every Rose has its thorn

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 20, 2023
Robbinsville – For every question posed by Andrews, the Black Knights had an answer.
Robbinsville High School senior Taelyr Ann Jackson was revealed as this year’s Miss Black Knight at halftime of Friday’s homecoming game. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Robbinsville High School senior Taelyr Ann Jackson was revealed as this year’s Miss Black Knight at halftime of Friday’s homecoming game. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Walkin’ on Sunshine

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 20, 2023
Robbinsville – The nickname “Sunshine” was afforded to Taelyr Ann Jackson while she was a member of the Lady Knights softball team her sophomore year.
Robbinsville's Donovan Carpenter (11) delivers a handoff to Cuttler Adams during the waning moments of the first half Friday against Andrews. The Black Knights scalded the Wildcats 36-19 on homecoming. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Robbinsville's Donovan Carpenter (11) delivers a handoff to Cuttler Adams during the waning moments of the first half Friday against Andrews. The Black Knights scalded the Wildcats 36-19 on homecoming. Photo courtesy of Maria Shook Photography

Conference champs tamed

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
Robbinsville – For every question posed by Andrews, Robbinsville had an answer. By the closing moments of the third quarter, the Black Knights had amassed a 36-0 advantage over the visiting Wildcats.
Career bragging rights have been surpassed by a pair of seniors within the last week: Delaney Brooms cleared 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills Oct. 5 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Career bragging rights have been surpassed by a pair of seniors within the last week: Delaney Brooms cleared 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills Oct. 5 at Hayesville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

2 athletes, 3 milestones

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
Robbinsville – While sprinting through a hectic stretch of action, two Lady Knights seniors cemented their legacy in Robbinsville volleyball history. Delaney Brooms surpassed 1,000 digs and kills in the same match – a 4-set triumph at Hayesville on Oct.
Dodging steady rainfall for much of the evening proved to be a challenge for both Robbinsville and Murphy on Friday. Here, Bulldogs quarterback Brady Grant could not get enough traction to escape Koleson Dooley (55) and Chase Calhoun (2), as the duo dropped Grant for a sack moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Dodging steady rainfall for much of the evening proved to be a challenge for both Robbinsville and Murphy on Friday. Here, Bulldogs quarterback Brady Grant could not get enough traction to escape Koleson Dooley (55) and Chase Calhoun (2), as the duo dropped Grant for a sack moments later. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rainin’ on their parade

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
The box score from Friday's game. Murphy – There was steady rainfall; tempers flaring on the field; and a thrilling conclusion. In other words, a fitting chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the Robbinsville Black Knights and the Murphy Bulldogs.
Robbinsville Black emerged as champions of the 2023 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Volleyball Tournament, which was held Saturday at Cherokee. Robbinsville Black swept another Graham County program – Snowbird – to capture the gold. From left are assistant coach Allison Rogers, Mercy Nelms, McKynlee Adams, Natalie Swimmer, Kamry Rogers, Amiyah Collins, head coach Holly Jackson and Lexi Crisp. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Black emerged as champions of the 2023 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Volleyball Tournament, which was held Saturday at Cherokee. Robbinsville Black swept another Graham County program – Snowbird – to capture the gold. From left are assistant coach Allison Rogers, Mercy Nelms, McKynlee Adams, Natalie Swimmer, Kamry Rogers, Amiyah Collins, head coach Holly Jackson and Lexi Crisp. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights; Lady Warriors; oh my!

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 13, 2023
Cherokee – All told, three different teams from Graham County suited up for Smokey Mountain Youth Conference volleyball action this season: two from Robbinsville and one representing Snowbird.
Roman Jones (15) and Bryce Adams (6) lead a sandwich of Murphy's Cameron Clem during the second half of Friday's 26-21 road victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Roman Jones (15) and Bryce Adams (6) lead a sandwich of Murphy's Cameron Clem during the second half of Friday's 26-21 road victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights gain measure of revenge against Bulldogs

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Murphy -- There was steady rainfall; tempers flaring on the field; and a thrilling conclusion. In other words, a fitting chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the Robbinsville Black Knights and the Murphy Bulldogs.
Senior Tia Hall contends the defense of Andrews’ Kinleigh Queen in Robbinsville’s 4-set road victory over the Lady Wildcats. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Senior Tia Hall contends the defense of Andrews’ Kinleigh Queen in Robbinsville’s 4-set road victory over the Lady Wildcats. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Still in the hunt

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Andrews – On paper, it’s a simple-enough ask: you have three matches left, so win out. But a quick scan of the remaining schedule on that same piece of paper will quickly reveal how daunting that task will be for the Robbinsville Lady Knights.
Chase Calhoun had his first 100-yard game in a Robbinsville uniform Friday, and he did it against his former school as part of a 46-6 rout at Cherokee. Running interference for Calhoun are Koleson Dooley (55) and Isiac Collins (61). Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Chase Calhoun had his first 100-yard game in a Robbinsville uniform Friday, and he did it against his former school as part of a 46-6 rout at Cherokee. Running interference for Calhoun are Koleson Dooley (55) and Isiac Collins (61). Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

It’s the thrill of the Chase

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 5, 2023
The box score from Friday's game at Cherokee. Cherokee – Chase Calhoun’s stomach was in knots as the Robbinsville team bus pulled into the parking area Friday.
Moments after securing the program’s first outright JV conference title in over a decade, the Robbinsville Black Knights gather to commemorate the victory at Swain County High School. Photo courtesy of Tonia Walsh/Robbinsville Middle School

Moments after securing the program’s first outright JV conference title in over a decade, the Robbinsville Black Knights gather to commemorate the victory at Swain County High School. Photo courtesy of Tonia Walsh/Robbinsville Middle School

Alone at last

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Bryson City – There will be no need to break out the rule book to determine a tiebreaker; a phone call to congratulate a rival coach on sharing a piece of the bragging rights will go undialed.